Arthur Curry, known to the surface as Aquaman, is the hybrid son of Tom Curry and Queen Atlanna who is superhero split between two worlds, being a member of the Justice League as well as being the sometimes ruler of the ancient kingdom of Atlantis.[1][2]
Biography
Aquaman: The Trench
Aquaman begins protecting Boston, where he quickly develops a more positive reputation than his negative public image. He decides to completely abandon Atlantis, choosing instead to pursue a life on land with Mera. The city is attacked by a carnivorous underwater species called The Trench and they fight off the invasion. Many humans are taken captive during the slaughter. His former mentor Stephen Shin is the only man who can help discover their whereabouts, and they visit him for guidance despite Shin having tried to kill Arthur. Descending into the Marianas Trench, they discover the predators dying out and desperately trying to feed their children in the remnants of an Atlantean craft. They save the captives, and Aquaman reluctantly causes the Trench's extinction to prevent further loss of human life. One of the creatures saved is a homeless dog who they decide to take in, calling him Aquadog. The Navy discovers an ancient black box aboard the craft, and Atlantean soldiers assault their base to take it back. Aquaman strands himself in the desert takes their aircraft down during escape, and receives a centuries-old warning from the device before getting rescued. Mera has difficulty adjusting to surface life.
Aquaman: The Others
Later, Aquaman and Mera visit Shin once more to ask him about who sank Atlantis, when suddenly, Ya'Wara, an old friend of Aquaman's, attacks Shin. Mera stops her, and Aquaman prevents Mera and Ya'Wara from fighting each other. Ya'Wara tells Aquaman that Kahina the Seer has been killed by Black Manta, who has taken the Seal of Clarity.
Aquaman and Ya'Wara teleport to Brazil, where they find Kahina's corpse. They discover that Manta has stolen the Seal of Clarity, one of the Atlantean relics. Aquaman and Ya'Wara decide to warn the Others, but they are suddenly attacked by Manta's henchmen. After defeating Manta's hunters, Aquaman and Ya'Wara teleport to Germany, where Another, the Prisoner-of-War, is located. Manta wants to obtain the Prisoner's manacles, which also are Atlantean relics. After a small chase, Aquaman encounters Manta. As Aquaman meets up with Ya'Wara and the Prisoner, Manta steals Ya'Wara's necklace and escapes.
The Others are reunited in the Operative's plane, the Living Room, where the Operative informs them that Manta is planning to steal the seventh relic, the scepter of the Dead King. The Others travel to the Dead King's tomb to stop Manta. Aquaman, Mera and the Others fight Manta and his forces, who have kidnapped Dr. Shin. Vostok dies protecting Aquaman from Manta's attack. Aquaman and his allies track Manta down as he is delivering the scepter to an Atlantean stranger, who Aquaman believes to be Orm. Although Aquaman defeats Manta, the stranger escapes with the scepter.
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis
Aquaman believes Orm was the one behind the Atlantean black box theft and Black Manta's acitivities. Orm denies any involvement and wishes happiness to Arthur. Later, a missile test conducted by the U.S. Army goes wrong and the missiles are detonated near Atlantis. Later, a tsunami strikes the United States East Seaboard. The Justice League intervenes to prevent casualties and Aquaman tells Batman that Atlantis has declared war on the surface world. Aquaman, Mera and Batman work together to rescue victims when a tidal wave hits Gotham City. As they travel to meet up with the Justice League, Aquaman and Batman discuss Orm's plans to invade the surface world. As the Justice League gathers, Aquaman wants to stop the attack peacefully, but Orm appears on the coast. Conflicted between his loyalties to the Justice League and Atlantis, Aquaman wants both sides to stand down but Orm orders his forces to attack. Orm imprisons the Justice League in pods and vanishes them to the ocean floor. With the help of Cyborg and Mera, the Justice League escapes and returns to the surface. As he talks with Cyborg, Aquaman realizes Orm is not responsible for the missile attack on Atlantis and someone else started the war. Aquaman and the Justice League discover Vulko was the one who started the war in the first place.
After Aquaman left Atlantis, Vulko was exiled and now wants revenge. Aquaman and the Justice League return to Boston and engage Orm and his forces. As the two brothers come to blows, Aquaman attempts to reason with Orm, saying that Vulko was responsible for the attack on Atlantis. Orm refuses to stand down, forcing Aquaman to becoming the king of Atlantis once more. In that moment, the Trench begin attacking both sides. Using the scepter of the Dead King, Aquaman sends the creatures back into the ocean, ending the war. Aquaman also orders the arrests of both Vulko and Orm. Knowing he must fulfill his responsibilities as king, Aquaman must return to Atlantis, asking Mera to come with him, but she is unsure. By becoming king, Aquaman tries maintain peace between the surface and Atlantis, and talks with Amanda Waller about humans smuggling Atlantean technology.
Aquaman: Return of the King
Aquaman and his soldiers mount operations all over the world to recover stolen Atlantean technology from human smugglers and bring the smugglers to justice. Talking with the captured Vulko, Aquaman discovers one of these smugglers is the Scavenger, an old enemy Aquaman had thought dead. Searching for the Scavenger, Aquaman and his forces find his submarine, but the Scavenger has already left. Inside, they find an injured Atlantean, so Aquaman orders the man to be taken home. After taking the injured Atlantean to the medical bay, Aquaman recieves news that Mera has disappeared inside the Bermuda Triangle. He travels to the Bermuda Triangle and reaches the kingdom of Xebel, Mera's homeland. There, he comes face to face with the Dead King, who has imprisoned the entire city on ice.
Aquaman frees Mera from the ice and they fight the Dead King together, but the Dead King orders the people of Xebel to fight for him. The Dead King reveals that Aquaman is not his descendant; the truth is that Aquaman's ancestors killed the Dead King's family. As the Dead King takes Aquaman's trident, Aquaman and Mera escape back to Atlantis and find the city is under attack by the Scavenger's fleet. Aquaman summons Topo, a massive underwater creature, to destroy the Scavenger's forces but the strain of controlling Topo causes him to pass out just as the Dead King arrives at Atlantis. Growing a beard, Aquaman awakens six months later under Vulko's care in Antarctica. Vulko takes Arthur to an underground chamber in Antarctica that reveals the Dead King's entire story.
His name was Atlan, and his was the first king of Atlantis, but his brother Orin betrayed him and took the throne of Atlantis for himself. Atlan used the trident to sink Atlantis into the ocean. Aquaman learns that he and his family actually descended from Orin, Atlan's brother.< Using the scepter, Arthur commands the Trench to liberate Atlantis and rescue Mera and any Atlanteans loyal to him. After a lengthy brawl, Arthur kills the Dead King and destroys the scepter, being acknowledged as the king of Atlantis once again. After shaving his beard, Aquaman and Mera choose to keep leading Atlantis and fighting to maintain peace between sea and land.
Aquaman: Sea of Storms
Aquaman: Maelstrom
Aquaman: Exiled
Aquaman: Out of Darkness
Aquaman: The Drowning
Aquaman: Black Manta Rising
Aquaman: Deep Dives
Aquaman: Crown of Atlantis
Aquaman: Underworld
Aquaman: Kingslayer
Aquaman/Suicide Squad: Sink Atlantis
Aquaman/Justice League: Drowned Earth
Aquaman: Unspoken Waters
Aquaman: Amnesty
Aquaman: Manta vs Machine
Aquaman: Echoes of a Life Lived Well
Powers
- Official
As an Atlantean hybrid, he possess the same physiological traits as other Atlanteans; superhuman strength, speed, reflexes, durability, stamina, possess resistance to heat & energy, breathe under water, and can withstand the deep pressures of the ocean. He is also an incredibly fast swimmer and is able to mentally influence the behaviors of sea animals. With his trident, he can channel various magical powers.[1][2]
Aquaman is considered one of the most powerful superheroes on Earth.[3]
- Comics
Equipment
- Trident of Poseidon
- Aquaman's armor
- Trident of Neptune (formerly)
In other media
Television
Movies & films
DC Comics Extended Universe
DC Comics Animated Universe
Video games
Trivia
- Aquaman's blond hair is a rare trait among Atlanteans.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 DC Comics Character Encyclopedia New Edition
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 DC Comics Encyclopedia: All-New Edition
- ↑ Aquaman Profile on DC Comics official website
- ↑ Batman Character Encyclopedia New Edition